Michigan Avenue Media Inc.

Publisher info

From romance and inspirational to adventure and fiction, Marsha has more than 20 years of experience in the writing industry. Overall, there are about 10 books, five of which are children’s and 11 feature-length screenplays published and written under her name. She just started writing under Lady Jane Sinclair sharing her work with a different audience. She also writes her screenplays under the name Max Irving. Her grandfather’s name was Max and her father’s name was Irving. So as you can see she loves to change and have fun with her writing.

Wanting to help writers reach their goals, Marsha founded the literary agency Marcus Bryan & Associates in 1996, and achieved signatory status from Writers Guild of America (WGA) within two years. In that capacity, she has represented more than 100 screenwriters and authors, and has also optioned books to movie production companies.

Marsha has spoken about her work and the craft of writing to a wide range of audiences including bookstores, schools, art museums and local cable networks, and will continue to speak to those interested in learning how to navigate the publishing and movie industry.

Look for Marsha's new book coming soon - January 2018 - IT'S NEVER TO LATE FOR LOVE

The Busy Bus
No Clues No Shoes - also Audio
The Magical Leaping Lizard - also Audio
Snack Attack -also Audio
I Wish I Was A Brownie- also Audio

Smashwords Interview

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

The thought of a new idea or a conversation with one of my characters gets me up and never leaves me, no matter what happens during the day. I'm really happy when my characters talk among themselves and I listen. I love talking to people and so do my characters which keeps me going into all hours of the night, but I LOVE IT!

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

I go to to movies and am constantly watching TV SHOWS listening to the way the lines are read by the characters on the shows. That keeps me on my toes and allows me to dream of my new characters and what they will say or do.

Love changes is deeply moving story about love and forgiveness. As the story of "Love Changes" unfolds we see the main character Elaine appear to be holding back a secret that is causing her pain. What she doesn't realize is how much pain she is causing others.

The Busy Bus is a short collection of children’s poetry. It’s great for children of all ages and every poem is about a different subject. Several of the poems ease into a small but meaningful lesson in life. This book is light and airy and introduces children to some very funny characters such as Big Fat Priscilla The Cat, Perculiar Pete, Messy Bessy, Uncle Edward Pig and Isabella Pimpinella

The Magical Leaping Lizard Potion is a fun imaginative read for early and more advanced readers.
It was Isabella Pimpinella's last chance to show her friends she could do something great. But the clock struck twelve and no one came to her party she was so disappointed. She thought her life was ruined, but then something wonderful happened and the night became magical.

Smashwords book reviews by Michigan Avenue Media Inc.

Addison Apple in ... Snack Attack
on June 08, 2011
Denise Spooner commented on your link.
Denise wrote: "This is a fabulous book that should be on EVERY child's reading shelf. It teaches a valuable lesson in obeying parents, caring for one's own health and much more. Just buy it, you WON'T be disappointed. I read it to the children I am a nanny for and the parents love it as much as the children do. he illustrations are colorful and eye catching and Marsha has done a fabulous job at capturing a child's attention in a most important way. It will change the way your child views what you say in a new way. Great book! Amazing author! You can find all her books on Amazon."

The Busy Bus — A Collection of Short Children's Poems
on June 12, 2011
5.0 out of 5 stars The Busy Bus, May 29, 2010
By Fran Lewis "Fran and Bertha" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) This review is from: The Busy Bus - A Collection of Short Children's Poems (Paperback)
The Busy Bus: A collection of Children's Poems
By author Marsha Casper Cook
There are many ways to teach kids how to love poems and want to read them. There are also many creative ways to help drive many lessons and points home without them knowing it. In the collection of humorous poems called The Busy Bus, Peculiar Pete takes adults and children on a humorous, innovative and wild poetry ride filled with silly, heartwarming and creative poems to just make you smile.
The poem, The Perfect Wish is one of my favorites as the narrator wishes for a day just to have fun in a pool, to swim and hope that someone will grant his/her wish just once. I would love that too. Do Re Mi Fa So La must have been written for everyone, like myself who always wanted to sing like Pink or Madonna but in reality when they tried sounded like a lemon on a really sour day. Off key would not describe my voice when I had to get up in my Voice class in college and sang a simple tune. Everyone stifled his or her laughs until I burst out hysterical laughing. My face might have turned a bright red like a red apple and I felt like running from the room, but I looked at the humorous side of things. How many people could ruin Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? For that I would always be famous. Yes, it could happen to you.
From poems that every girl can identify with like The Brat, who tells why her sister definitely did not look like her to Nasty Miss Masters the teacher who never had to worry about discipline these poems are what every child and adult should read on a day when you just need to laugh, smile and read some great poetry.
Lizzie McGee is a great poem to teach everyone that you can't change or pick your family or make a witch mean. Poems about Hiccups, Giggle Giggle Cheer, and Hit, Miss or Duck that teaches you if you keep trying you might succeed. Author Marsha Casper Cook along with Peculiar Pete take us on a giggly, funny, humorous bus ride into the land of poetry.
Each illustration will help even the non- reader to enjoy, understand and embrace each poem. For the child in everyone read this great book, give a copy to your school's librarian, take one to your public library and buy a few copies for your kids, grandkids and friends. All three of these great children's books should be on the shelf in every school library, classroom library, public library and your own personal children's library at home.
I give all three books: Five Gold Stars.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer

Love Changes
on June 12, 2011
5.0 out of 5 stars Love Can Really Change Your Life: Love Changes reviewed by Fran Lewis, June 3, 2010
By Fran Lewis "Fran and Bertha" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) This review is from: Love Changes (Paperback)
Love Changes by Marsha Casper Cook
Marriages have a way of outlasting themselves. Sometimes we don't even see the signs not until it is too late. Martin Lewis is trying his best to understand his wife Elaine's erratic mood swings. Honored at a dinner for the disabled, his wife and his mother both proud, but in two different ways. A man who is selfless, a doctor who is rare and rarely cares about his patients, does not see the warning signs in front of him as his marriage is about to smolder into ashes due to the secrets and lies his wife has hidden from him for years. Spending his life as a doctor and delivering children into this world, just imagine how he would feel if he found out his child was given away. Enter into the world of gambling, adultery, abortion, mental illness and the disabled. Elaine appears to us as a selfish, unfeeling woman who enjoys the life of a rich socialite and doctor's wife. Martin Lewis deliberately ignores her faults, her coldness and mood swings in order to keep his marriage solvent. Elaine Lewis has placed a veil of secrecy around her in order to hide the truths about her past. Will they be able to survive? What truths will be revealed in this heartfelt novel by outstanding author Marsha Casper Cook who brings to light so many issues that people face today but never really fully address.
Elaine Lewis appears on the outside to be a cold, unfeeling and distant woman. That is all a façade. Beneath the surface you will find a woman who is deeply troubled, hiding from her own pain and remembering a choice that she made that changed the course of her life, Martin's and an innocent child. Elaine Lewis made the choice to give away her young son, Steven. Steven was born with a disability, an imperfection that she could not stand for and would not allow into her life. Steven was born with Down syndrome and would need the love, understanding and caring of parents who would learn and want to address his needs. She was not that giving and she convinced Martin to give her child to someone she never met. Haunted by the images and dreams of her sister Megan who died in a freak accident, Elaine's emotional scars and guilt from that day on have tortured her waking hours and left her cold and afraid to love any other child.
Facing her fears, running away from her life and finally coming to a stark realization after almost losing her life, Elaine decides it is time to get some help but at what cost. Finding her diary and reading the entries, Martin learns the hidden secret about how Elaine really feels about their son Stevie and why she feels like a failure. With the help of her close friend Sally, Maggie and even Josh a man she formed a relationship with, Elaine might just find her way back but not before Dr. Ben Caulfield of the facility she is in forces her to face past in a very unique and brave manner. Three great doctors, her husband, her psychiatrist and her gynecologist, all-working toward the same end to save this troubled and tortured woman from herself. But, could they and the events that do follow are startling. A man who has devoted his life to his wife and yet questions his own actions and blames himself for not being able to help his wife and understand her problems. A woman who closed herself off when her son was born but in her heart and soul she loves him.
There are many children born with disabilities today both physically and learning that hamper their learning. As a reading and writing specialist I worked with students that needed that extra help in both areas and I taught classes of double grades with students who were below level and had difficulty in both reading and math. Before becoming the reading and writing specialist I worked with so many children who endeared themselves to me and who will always be in my heart and soul forever. Working with children with disabilities like Down syndrome, autism and Attention Deficit Disorder takes a specially trained teacher and parent to help these children succeed. It can be done as we hope Elaine will find out.
When Martin asks Sally to attend a gallery opening more than just the paintings are revealed as Sally and Josh come to terms with his feelings for Elaine as the plot becomes more complicated and lives are intertwined.
Anonymity is what Elaine strived for and wanted in order to forget her pain and release her anger. She found her solace at the racetrack where she stated she could rest her mind and no one cared who or what she was. Friendships are hard for Elaine to cultivate but the persistence of one woman would change the course of her treatment and hopefully restore her life. The dam finally burst the water began to flow and Elaine was finally on the road to recovery. Group therapy sessions revealed many other aspects of her childhood and past. As author Marsha Casper Cook takes us on a backward journey into her past and then reunites us with her present life, we learn more about the real Elaine.
The events that follow her release you will have to read for yourself. Sometimes when we wait too long we learn many other hard lessons in life. The ending has a twist and you will never expect. What does happen to Elaine, Martin and Stevie will surprise the reader. This is a story a man whose unrequited love for his wife. A story of loyalty, friendship, hope and the desire to set the past free and strengthen the future. Friendships that will last, others that will be tested and losses that will be hard to overcome, as Elaine Lewis tries to understand what lies ahead for her and those she loves.
Well written, characters that you will either love or hate, a woman who learns many truths about herself, and a man whose undying love helped her through it all. This is a must read for everyone that has ever had a child with disabilities, learning needs or lost someone close to them.
Marsha Casper Cook brings to light so many valuable issues in this book that are relevant today. A definite must read and one of my best picks for 2010.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer and author of the Bertha Series of Books and
Memories are Precious Alzheimer's Journey Ruth's story.